Beaumont Cottage by Andrea Tarwater 🤩📗💙🏡

Happy Book Friend Friday! 💚

Today, I want to highlight my dear book friend, Andrea!

✨✨I'm doing a GIVEAWAY for a paperback copy of Beaumont Cottage on Instagram! Ends on midnight EST on July 24, 2026.✨✨

Before I get into my review, I want to thank Andrea for trusting me with her baby (this wonderful and amazing novel) ☺️✨✨

Back in January 2025, Andrea told me that she was writing a novel and asked if I'd like to read some of it. Of course, I absolutely JUMPED at the chance! The two of us had been buddy reading many vintage romances (and children's books) for at least a year together. So, I knew that we already shared a very similar taste in books. When she described the premise of her novel, I was even MORE excited. It sounded like a dream (and...spoiler...it was!) 

Click on the photo to read the summary!

By February 2nd, she had shared the three first chapters with me and I was truly hooked. 

As the year went on (and into the beginning of this year), Andrea shared more chapters with me and I was able to read chunks of the story at a time. I loved the way the story evolved and changed gradually. I also felt privileged to be asked for edits, feedback and suggestions. I wanted to do all I could to support my talented friend. 

I can't tell you what a joy it was to see the first AI images she created of her characters, Ada and Farris (looking at them while reading the book was SO fun!), and then to see a photo of the actual house that inspired the painting created by her father for the cover. 

Getting updates from my soon-to-be-author friend over the past year and a half has been a wild dream and I'm incredibly thankful to her for sharing so much with me. Being able to read Beaumont Cottage from start to finish made me so happy! 🤗💖💖 

I am in love with my signed hardcover copy gifted to me by Andrea herself. Now, I have both a signed paperback AND hardcover to my collection (along with the cutest postcards and bookmark)—yay! Thank you so so much, my lovely friend!

RATING: 5🌟 

If you’re in the mood for something cozy, heartfelt, and just brimming with charm, let me introduce you to Beaumont Cottage by Andrea Tarwater—because WOW, this one completely swept me away in the best, warmest, most comforting way.

From the very beginning, Ada’s story pulls you in with that tender mix of grief and curiosity after her mother’s sudden passing. The premise alone—inheritance of a mysterious cottage tied to her mother’s past—already had me hooked, but what truly makes this book shine is how deeply immersive and cozy everything feels. I’m talking about the kind of cozy where you can practically smell the clean linens, hear the soft clink of dishes, and see the sunlight filtering through lace curtains.

One of my absolute favorite things? The details. The chapters filled with cooking, cleaning, decorating—yes, cleaning!—were so satisfying. Watching Ada bring Beaumont Cottage back to life, unpacking furniture, arranging rooms, and discovering little treasures made me ridiculously happy. And don’t even get me started on the attic: hidden staircase, mysterious boxes, forgotten furniture… it felt like uncovering secrets right alongside her. Opening those boxes was such a moment.

Also—can we talk about the chapter titles? Fantastically clever. They added such a playful, thoughtful touch that made each section feel special. And I have to shout out Chapters 5, 16, 19, and 23 in particular—they just hit differently in the best way.

The setting and side characters add so much warmth, too. The Parker family? Adorable. I loved the descriptions of their living room and clothing—so vivid and comforting. And sweet Beau with his polka dot bowtie? I mean…come on. 😍 That detail alone made me smile every time he appeared. The romantic thread is gentle and sweet, perfectly woven into Ada’s journey without overpowering it.

STANDOUT SCENES THAT I LOVED: 
💙 The laundromat and bookstore scenes—pure cozy bliss. The tinkling bell at the bookstore? I could hear it! 
💚 The housewarming party at the cottage—so heartfelt, and the gifts were such a lovely reflection of community and found family. 
💙 The county fair chapter—honestly, SO charming and fun. The fortune-telling element (which I absolutely loved) added this whimsical, slightly magical layer that gave me subtle Nancy Drew vibes in the best possible way. 

And then there are the literary nods sprinkled throughout—references to Pride and Prejudice, The Blue Castle, Pollyanna—such a thoughtful touch for book lovers. It made the whole story feel like a love letter to classic, comforting literature.

Ada’s mother’s journals were another highlight—mysterious, emotional, and really key to unraveling the past. (I adored the handwriting font used for the journal entries!) And that portrait with the white fluffy dog? Such a cool, almost haunting detail that added depth to the story’s atmosphere.

There’s even a tragic twist involving Ada’s father and Great Aunt Jewel Beaumont that adds an unexpected emotional layer—definitely one of those moments that makes everything feel more interconnected and real.

By the end, I felt like I had lived in this story. It played out in my head like a movie—every scene so vivid, every emotion so genuine. 

The ending is sweet, grounded, and satisfying in a very “this feels right” kind of way.

Overall, this book is charming, nostalgic, and full of heart. It’s about grief, yes—but also about rebuilding, rediscovery, and the quiet, beautiful ways love finds its way back in.

If you love cozy domestic fiction with rich detail, gentle romance, and a touch of mystery, Beaumont Cottage is an absolute joy. I didn’t want to leave. 💚

 ✨Where Can You Buy This Amazing Book?✨

Formats: E-book, paperback, hardcover and signed hardcover

• If you're in the United States—buy HERE on Amazon.com.
• To buy a signed, hardcover copy—fill out THIS FORM.
• Send some love to Andrea by commenting on this Instagram post! 

Let me know in the comments if you're going to buy a copy of her debut novel 🤩

Wishing my sweet friend all the luck in the world and much deserved success! 🥰📚❤️

Bel Lamington & Fletcher's End by D.E. Stevenson ☺️💙💚

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 🥳🎉

Can I tell you how happy I am that Dean Street Press has republished TWO MORE of D.E. Stevenson's warm and wonderful novels?? Yipppeee! I'm in heaven! 

Not only do these books have gorgeous covers, but now there are over 100 Furrowed Middlebrow titles. Unbelievable! 😱

So far, I've read 65/103 of the FM books. I'm slowly making my way through and looking forward to the rest with happy anticipation!

Okay, back to Bel! 

I've read this duology three times and now I also have three different editions—so fitting, right? Wooo! 

Here are my thoughts on each... 

1. BEL LAMINGTON

RATING: 4.5🌟 A delightfully cozy novel!

Bel hated taking a firm line with anyone, but sometimes it was essential. It will be alright once Mr. Brownlee comes back, thought Bel as she made ready for bed. Mrs. Brownlee's faith in her son was infectious. 

WHAT I LOVED: 

💚 Cozy descriptions of homes, food and nature (especially once Bel goes to Scotland)
💚 Kind and competent Bel 
💚 Dependable, interesting and handsome Mr. Ellis Brownlee
💚 The caring Mrs. Brownlee and dynamic Young Jim Copley
💚 Lively Louise and her wonderful father
💚 Another “glimpse” of James and Rhoda!

WHO I DIDN'T LOVE:

❊ Horrible and jealous Mr. Wills
❊ Scheming, dishonest and nasty Miss Goudge 
❊ Self-centered Mark Desborough

NOTE: The quote above is at the end of Chapter 12 and is my favorite passage. My thoughts and emotions (in general) are very similar to Bel’s, so I’m very sympathetic to her character. I also adored the section of Bel's lovely visit to see Mrs. Brownlee! In my vintage paperback edition, this was on pages 127-130.

2. FLETCHER'S END 

RATING: 4.75🌟 A terrifically charming and romantic sequel to Bel Lamington! 

...all the things she loved about Fletcher's End;...the friendly feeling when you came in (as if it were welcoming you home)...the old oak beams...the curve of the staircase and the smoothness of the banister-rail beneath your hand...the morning sunshine pouring in through the windows and shining on the polished floors...the singing of the birds at dawn...the clock on the tower of St. Julian's striking the hours...the crackle of logs burning in the big stone fireplace...the gentle creaks and sighings as the old house settled down for the night...

Bel thought of Mrs. Warmer—nice kind Mrs. Warmer; and Mr. Carruthers, talking about 'chimbleys'; and little Mr. Fuller, walking about the 'garding' and enjoying the 'luverly flowers'—invisible to everyone except himself. They were all part of Fletcher's End. She thought of the aspen tree outside the staircase window and the rustle of the wind among its leaves; she thought of the roses, Ellis' roses, which would bloom for him next year.  She thought of the 'apricocks' on the south wall—not next year, but perhaps the year after, their branches would be bowed down with little golden globes. 

WHAT I LOVED:

💚 Bel and Ellis' loving and supportive relationship
💚 Fletcher's End itself (I want to live there!)
💚 Steady, practical and hardworking Ellis
💚 Lovely and energetic Louise along with her understanding (and patient) father, Dr. Armstrong
💚 Cozy and old-fashioned Mrs. Warmer (I would love a home helper like her!)
💚 Reading about all of the home repairs to Fletcher's End
💚 Bel's friendship with Margaret Warren (from Bel Lamington)
💚 Descriptions of the garden, rose bushes, and violets
💚 The stunning painting of Mrs. Lestrange (with I could see it, if it existed!)
💚 Mini mystery concerning the wardrobe bought from Roy Lestrange
💚 Learning more about Alec's character and his struggle to get his life in order

Although I didn't love this DES novel quite as much as the first time I read it in 2019, I still consider it one of my top favorites.

!CAUTION: SPOILER AHEAD!

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ANOTHER PART I LOVED:

"Happiness filled her heart to overflowing—for Fletcher's End was safe. It belonged to her and Ellis; it was their very own. They would live here and enjoy its peace and beauty all their lives...Presently Bel became aware of the scent of violets, it was faint at first—perhaps it was just imagination—but gradually it grew stronger until the delicious fragrance filled the room. Bel glanced up at the picture and it seemed to her that Mrs. Lestrange was smiling."

Although I love Fletcher’s End a tiny bit more, I still adore Bel Lamington. I enjoyed it even more this time around! I highly recommended this series!

Once again, I have Victoria of Dean Street Press to thank for these gorgeous new paperback editions! She truly chose the perfect artwork for these covers. I'm in love! Thank you, thank you, dear friend! 😍❤️📚

Let me know in the comments if you've read these books and which (if any) you love more.

What are you reading this weekend, book friends? 

Much love and summery hugs! 💛☀️🤗☀️💛

P.S. Sharing a couple of photos of a couple of bouquets from my little New Hampshire garden, too! The mixed rose bouquet includes David Austin roses (the pink and yellow). The next has peach roses and day lilies (about to bloom). All of the roses smell amazing! (Once my rose bushes grow a bit bigger, I hope I'll have more than a few roses per season. Right now, they're about 1-2 years old at most.) The last photo shows two kinds of daisies and a pretty sunflower type that's new to me! Hope you like them! 

 

Dorothy Lambert Book Collection 🤩📚✨

Happy Book Publication Day & Happy Centenary Book Collection to Dean Street Press! 😍💕

Thank you, thank you to Victoria and everyone on the DSP team for bringing these beautiful books into our reading lives. What would we do without them?? (Personally, I would freak out!)

I hope you’ll give at least one (or all five!) of the Dorothy Lambert novels republished by Dean Street Press at try! And, if you're on Instagram, please show some love by commenting on or sharing their lovely posts! 😍

Now that I've read 5/5 Furrowed Middlebrow Dorothy Lambert books, I thought I'd combine them into one post and share a few extra thoughts 😍

BOOK RATINGS & REVIEWS: 

(Click on the titles to read my full blog post and review!) 

🌸 Much Dithering 4.5🌟

🌸 All I Desire 4.75🌟

🌸 Scotch Mist 4.25🌟

🌸 Staying Put 4🌟

🌸 Harvest Home 4.75🌟

MORE THOUGHTS: 

Now that I've had a taste of what Dorothy Lambert can do, I'd really love to read more of her books! According to Goodreads, she has even more titles such as:

• Two Birds and a Stone
• Fish Out of Water
• The Stolen Days
• Elizabeth, Who Wouldn't
• Emergency Exit
• Nothing to Forgive
• Moons and Magpies
• A Present for Mary
• Birds on the Wing
• Aunts in Arcady
• Strange Lover
• Three Meet
• Rescuing Anne
• Traveling Light
• Golden Grove
• Taken at the Flood
• Way Back to Happiness
• Redferne, MFH: An Irish Stew 

Don't they have such fun titles?? I think my favorites are Moons and Magpies, Traveling Light, Golden Grove and Elizabeth, Who Wouldn't. How about you?

I can only hope that DSP might consider republishing a few more (or many more!) of her light, fun and quirky novels in the future. It's such a treat to find an author that I can count on for a giggle and a boost of energy. I've definitely found that this was true of all five books I've read by Dorothy Lambert so far! 

ABOUT DOROTHY LAMBERT: (via Goodreads author page)

"Dorothy Lambert (born Alice Dorothea Irwin) was known for her many romance novels, often incorporating humor and occasionally farce. She left Ireland when she got married in 1906. She died in Kent, near Dover."

She was born in Mallow, Ireland on February 17, 1884 and died on May 28, 1967 at the age of 83. 

 

DON'T MISS THESE REVIEWS!

Make sure to check out Caro's book review blog posts (@carosbookcase) and Sabine's (@sabines.literary.world) book review posts!

Also, a huge shout out to Liz Dexter (@lyzzybee) who typed out all of the Dorothy Lambert books by hand in order for them to be republished by DSP. She’s awesome!! Wooo!

Which DL book is on the top of your TBR list? I'd love to know!

If you've read more than one, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Dorothy Lambert's novels! Do you have a favorite so far? 

Happy Wednesday! Much love! ❤️🌺🤗🌺❤️ 

Harvest Home by Dorothy Lambert 😊❤️💜💚

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 🤩💃🏻❤️

Dorothy Lambert has been impressing me all month long with her exciting domestic novels! Although the setting of the books is not specifically summer, somehow they all feel summery. I would 100% recommend them all as the perfect picks for beach reading. 😊☀️🏖

It's not too late to pre-order these titles (available in both paperback and/or ebook) on Amazon! (US link) (UK Link) Only 5 days until publication! 🎉

RATING: 4.75🌟 Lively, fun, descriptive and wacky!

Harvest Home starts with Lucinda traveling to London to attend her sister Angela's birthday party and ends up with a whole lot of crazy consequences. From the very first page, I was pulled into this quirky romantic comedy. (I would love to see this novel on screen!)

From London to the remote countryside, there is non-stop activity for the Bradsole family and their friends. This includes devious plans, secrets, ghosts, romantic yearnings, frustrated parents, jealousy and little lies in order to "help" others. What happens after the harvest is a ball of confusion, but ends with surprising results!

I might have given this new Dorothy Lambert title a 5 star review, but I just felt too frustrated with some of the characters. But, it was SO close! 

Harvest Home mostly takes place during the autumn season, but it was the perfect choice to read during the summer. The wonderful writing, enthusiastic energy and particularly peculiar plot of this 1950s novel made it a shining summer gem!

MAIN CHARACTERS:

❊ Sir Giles Bradsole - Aka "Puffin", father of Angela, Lucinda and Gillian, farmer and owner of Dregllingore Place (aka "The Place"), hard worker
❊ Lady Bradsole - Aka "Muffy", the mother of the 3 girls, wife to Sir Giles, muddler and martyr to cooking and cleaning at The Place
❊ Angela Bradsole - Oldest Bradsole daughter, lives in London with roommate Priscilla, believes she is an artist, a wee bit selfish and conceited, pretty, not very intelligent or interesting
❊ Lucinda Bradsole - Aka "Cinders", middle daughter, has horticultural degree, amazingly helpful to Sir Giles on the farm
❊ Gillian Bradsole - Youngest daughter, beautiful, understands much more than others give her credit for, close to Lucinda
❊ Priscilla Yardley - Small, slight, coppery hair, eager, a "live wire", roommate to Angela in London, works for a psychoanalyst (and thinks she is one, too!)
❊ Simon Kingsford - Across the hall temporary neighbor to Angela and Priscilla, Canadian, big, strong, handsome, tough, friendly, parachute solider during the war
❊ Alywin Vines - Limp, sulky, obstinate, loves music, "long-suffering air", thinks he's a poet
❊ Toby Hargreave - Aka "The General", near neighbors to the Bradsoles, likes to flirt with young girls (especially Angela)
❊ Sybil Hargreave - Sister to Toby, a pain in the neck to all, thinking she's an important part of the community
❊ Derek Hargreave - Son of "The General", has a crush on Lucinda, jealous of Simon
❊ Mrs. Kingsford - Little old lady in the community from a distinguished family and a mysterious past. Presently not seen very often and mostly thought of as "batty".

WHAT I LOVED:

💜 Being swept into the story (like a tidal wave) from the very first page!
💜 Reading all of the cozy domestic details of everyday life on the farm, especially the food
💜 Priscilla's undeniable energy, charm and perseverance
💜 Seeing how Priscilla could turn things "her way" with such ease
💜 Simon's steady and loyal presence, even though it was clear that he was keeping something back
💜 The way Lucinda is like glue that keeps a lot of the family members together and sane 
💜 Tiny hints of the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's, at the beginning of the novel during the London birthday party 

WHAT FRUSTRATED ME THE MOST:

❊ Horrible Sybil with her bossiness, interfering nature, selfishness and complete lack of sympathy for others
❊ The household cat, Kenneth, who literally eats anything (and everything!) any time a person leaves the room. (Why doesn't anyone do anything about this??)
❊ Poor Muffie trying to run a household on her own with very little food at hand, very limited hot water, almost no help and dealing with Kenneth the cat!
❊ Mr. and Mrs. Styles (the servant couple) rules the Hargreave family with an iron fist

❤️ FAVORITE PASSAGES: 

"You don't know Puffin," said Lucinda with conviction. "He'd never let himself in for anything so modern as a camp, would he, Angela?" 

The scones were heavy and not quite cooked, but he ate them purely as fodder. Gillian stood by and piled jam on scones and handed them to him in quick succession. Lucinda cut a slab of gingerbread and put it on his plate while his wife poured out cups of tea. After five or six minutes of intensive feeding, Sir Giles lit his pipe and disappeared, saying that he wanted a really hot bath when he came in. 

"Muffie! Do look out! Kenneth is on the table!" But, it was too late. The sardine sandwiches had gone. Kenneth had had them.

I'm so grateful to Victoria at Dean Street Press (she's the best!) for sending along this book (and three other new Dorothy Lambert books) for me to read and review! DSP Furrowed Middlebrow books are my lifeline to comfort and entertainment—they are books I always reread, adore the cover art, and look to whenever I want a bookish hug. ☺️✨

Stay tuned for my last Dorothy Lambert post (here and on Instagram) next Friday—yay! 😍❤️

Will you be buying theses Dorothy Lambert books in July? (Psst...you really should...they're WONDERFUL!)

Have a relaxing and fun weekend! 💛🌼🤗🌼💛 

What will you be reading? Let me know in the comments! 

 

Staying Put by Dorothy Lambert ☺️💖💙

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 🥳🎉

This is my 4th out of 5 Dorothy Lambert books I've read in the past few months...yay! I can honestly say that I'm addicted.  

I feel the same way about DL's novels that I do about D.E. Stevenson, Molly Clavering and Susan Scarlett. Generally, they're light, clever, fun-to-read, and have the perfect amount of tenderness and a romance (along with some nature description which varies by author.)

Dorothy Lambert's stories also add a hint of wackiness and chaos that I find hilarious (and a little thrilling!) lol.

Remember that you can pre-order these titles (available in both paperback and ebook) right now on Amazon! (US link) (UK Link)

RATING: 4🌟  War-time Whirlwind and Possible Wedding!

Staying Put takes place in the early days of WW2 in the small English village of Swansford. The reader follows the Falcon family (mostly Lavinia) as they readjust their lives in a new location and try to figure out what they can do to help the village (and themselves) once war is announced. 

Woven into the themes of war preparation, finding jobs, village gossip and bickering, probability of bombings and possible spies, there is a thread (or two!) of romance between the inhabitants. (Whew—there's so much going on in this village-goes-to-war story!)

Here's a little bit about the characters and what I loved about this book:

MAIN CHARACTERS:

❊ Lavinia Falcon (widow, loves to garden, comes back to Swansford to live at Beech Hill after her husband dies, has three adult children...see below)
❊ Rowena Falcon (22, big, tall, blonde, efficient, know-it-all, looking for a wealthy husband, doing war work and acting superior)
❊ Richard Falcon (19, signed up to RAF, temporarily idle, a bit lazy, unmotivated, has a ravenous turtle named Peregrine who eats all of the garden lettuce)
❊ Felicity Falcon (17, youngest child, beautiful, flirty, curious, always ready for an adventure of any kind, has a family of teddy bear friends named the Blennerhassets)
❊ Lady Bulstrode (Lady of The Mallards, rich as anything, wants to control everyone...especially her son Ralph and strives to be seen as generous and supremely important in the little village)
❊ Ralph Thurston (runs the farm part of Mallards, deals with his mother Lady Bulstrode, desperately desires to fix Lavinia's lawn, reliable, practical and a good friend to all)
❊ Maureen Driscoll (Daughter of Mrs. Driscoll and sister to Michael. Went to school at the nearby convent and does exquisite embroidery work for them. Her mother makes her stay in a dark back room of the shop and discourages her from seeing anyone. She's lonely and anxious.)
❊ Michael Driscoll (Son of Mrs. Driscoll and brother to Maureen. Skillful, intelligent, cautious, courteous and private. He wants to do something more than fixing cars in the village. Frustrated and angry. Mother does not approve of him.)

WHAT I LOVED:

💖 Dear Lavinia (Smart, down-to-earth, clever, and a good mother. She reminds me a little of D.E. Stevenson's Mrs. Tim character.)
💖 Sweet Maureen and her lovely nature and beautiful embroidery
💖 How Ralph helps the entire Falcon family in small, but significant ways throughout the book
💖 A little bit of a mystery that needs to be solved (re: the Driscolls)
💖 The short Christmas scene with Christmas at The Mallards with Lady Bulstrode, Ralph, Lavinia and Felicity. Ralph's gifts to his guests were very sweet.

WHAT FRUSTRATED ME THE MOST:

❊ Why does Felicity act like she's 12 years old?? If I didn't know that she was at least 17 in this novel, I would have thought she was 12 or under by her words and actions. But, when you add in the flirting, it feels very confusing!
❊ Why does Lavinia have such a snobbish attitude towards Maureen and Michael Driscoll?
❊ Horrible, pig-headed, fanatic and mean-spirited Mrs. Driscoll (Irish owner of the corner shop and mother of Maureen and Michael)
❊ Mrs. Beckett (She's very similar to Miss Bates of Emma by Jane Austen (just not so gentle or kind) and is incredibly annoying in every way. Mother to Felicity's friend and co-worker, Julia. She's always going to visit Lavinia to vent (and not reciprocate.)
❊ Miss Dampier is so argumentative and makes things more difficult for all of the villagers, especially when it comes to Mrs. Beckett.
❊ A bit of an abrupt ending 

💙 FAVORITE PASSAGES: 

Felicity plunged in with a torch and looked round. "Heavens! What a mess! How absolutely thrilling! We've actually been bombed, Mummy! Isn't it marvelous? Absolutely!"

Rowena always knew about the right things and liked telling others.  

Felicity was seventeen, blithe, inconsequent, lovely to look at, and promised to be an anxiety.  

She was always good-tempered and easy to get on with, was clever and tactful in keeping the peace among the members of the various committees, and never asserted her own views too loudly. (Lavinia) 

Nothing happened, but one expected something all the time. Everything went on perfectly normally, but nothing felt normal. War was nowhere and yet everywhere. And all the time it went on raining, growing more and more depressing. 

After this particular introduction Bridget Twomey settled down at Beech Hill and became the prop and stay of the household.  

Ada and Elsie discussed the situation that evening. "I declare," said Ada, "it's like living in a newsreel with all this excitement. Fancy the girl from the Corner Shop having her mother blown up. Some people do have luck."  

Overall, I really enjoyed Staying Put. It's not quite as good as the other four Dorothy Lambert books I've read so far, but it's still pretty solid. I feel like this book might have too many unnecessary characters and a little less depth than the other titles. 

Always a huge thanks and big hug to Victoria at Dean Street Press for sending along this book (and three other new Dorothy Lambert books) for me to read and review! DSP Furrowed Middlebrow books are the BEST! 🥰❤️🌟

Stay tuned for another Dorothy Lambert book review (and post on Instagram) next Friday—woo-hoo! 🥳🎉 

Who is your favorite furrowed middlebrow author? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend, friends! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕 

Scotch Mist by Dorothy Lambert 😄💚💙

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 😄📘🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Now that I've read Much Dithering in April and All I Desire in May, I'm continuing my lovely and enjoyable reading with even more Dorothy Lambert novels by Dean Street Press (coming soon—July 2026!) Here are my thoughts on the second to-be-republished novel! 

RATING: 4.25🌟 Family drama to the max! 

If (for some reason) your family is driving you batty, this is the perfect book to read. You'll immediately start feeling grateful for who you have in your life—and their faults will probably be greatly reduced in your mind. lol! 

On the other hand, if your family is making you feel like running away, this Dorothy Lambert title may be too close to the heart. Eek!

Either way, it's absolutely worth reading! 

"A hotel is all very well, but I didn't bargain to find myself running a lunatic asylum." - Neil McPherson, Laird of Glenlochart House

Scotch Mist is a truly entertaining (though maddening) domestic novel that starts off in London and moves quickly on to a beautiful (but rundown) rural estate in Scotland. The Laird (Neil McPherson) is forced to start taking in guests in hopes that he will earn enough money to repair Glenlochart to its former glory. Meanwhile, Alison Fairlie (a responsible, hardworking artist who has never married) takes a much-needed vacation from her redecorating business and her demanding (and lazy) family and, strangely, ends up at Glenlochart. 

Although Alison had dreamed of peaceful and solitary moments to paint and relax, she is soon faced with unwanted family and a whole host of new problems. One of them includes the disapproval of Neil's housekeeper, Mrs. McCaig. More craziness occurs when a rich businessman and his son take rooms at Glenlochart House—Andrew and Roderick Tosh are unbearable, entitled and entirely ungrateful. The circumstances reach a breaking point pretty quickly after that.

WHAT I LOVED:

💙 The atmospheric descriptions of the gorgeous Scottish landscape
💙 Wonderfully charming estate of Glenlochart
💙 Being in Alison's mind when she's trying to reason out difficult situations
💙 Alison's loyal and down-to-earth friend and business partner, Jane Barclay
💙 The ending!!!

THE CHARACTERS THAT FRUSTRATED ME THE MOST:

❊ Handsome and Dependent Lady Caroline (Omg...how does one deal with such a selfish and greedy mother??)
❊ Beautiful and Dazzling Pamela (She's no different from Lady Caroline, only with a more dangerous temperament!)
❊ Wealthy and Entitled Andrew Tosh (Can he stop bragging about his wealth for one minute?!)
❊ Roddy Tosh (He's far too idle and conceited. He needs something to do that isn't "having fun" and spending money!)

From the first moment Alison arrives at the Scottish estate, there are non-stop scenes, melodrama and misunderstandings. You get swept into a sea of tension and comedy...but, somehow, you enjoy every minute. (Or, I did when I wasn't feeling frustrated or annoyed by the characters.) Overall, I was rooting for Neil and Alison to get together—and for Glenlochart House!

You'll just have to read this highly entertaining book to find out what happens in the end! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! 

💖 MY FAVORITE PASSAGES/QUOTES:

"Life is serious, " agreed Pamela; "that's our chief trouble, Binkie, so I try to keep smiling." 

Alison swung round in astonishment and found herself facing a strange man with pleasant blue eyes, rain-soaked hair that curled close to his head, and a bronzed, dark face with a well-shaped nose and a firm mouth with a glimpse of good teeth under a small dark moustache. 

She looked thoughtfully at her extra suitcase—"an emergency case," she called it, and it would appear that the present circumstances were in the nature of an emergency. She stroked her cheek with a little smile. "A single lady out to set a bachelor by the ears? I'll teach them their mistake." - Alison

He wished Alison were with him to appreciate the loveliness of the morning light over the panorama of mountains, the blueness of the hills, the freshness of the birch woods in the sunshine, the gleam of silver where the loch sparkled in a setting of dark pines, the purple shadows where the big, slowly-piling clouds passed over the sun. - Neil

She paused, breathless, and before Neil could find any words to answer the astounding questions she hurled at him, Alison appeared on the stairs and said in a tone of the utmost horror, "Mother!"  

At present, it was like a third-class boarding-house, and he loathed everyone in it and never wanted to see any of them again. - Neil  

Pamela was just a little fool, born to make trouble for herself and other people, but Lady Caroline was a really dreadful person. 

The wonder of the hours on the loch would be the most beautiful memory of her life, so beautiful as to be almost a pain. - Alison 

(See end of post for SPOILER passages/quotes!)

Endless thanks to Victoria at Dean Street Press for sending along this book (and three other new Dorothy Lambert books) for me to read and review! I always get so much enjoyment reading any DSP Furrowed Middlebrow book! 🥰❤️🌟

Right now, I'm more than halfway through the last Dorothy Lambert title and I'm super excited share my thoughts on two more novels! Yay! 🥳🎉

Have you read any Dorothy Lambert books yet? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Friday! Have a fabulously fun weekend, friends! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕 

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FAVORITE "SPOILER" PASSAGES/QUOTES: 

Neil raised her hand and kissed it. "I'm satisfied, as long as Glenlochart is my only rival." 

"I'd take on the old trout, I said, and see he didn't have to worry, so Roddy skipped off to Gretna with the blooming bride, and now what I've got to say is just this: Lady Caroline, will you do me the honour to marry me?" Lady Caroline clenched her hands and sprang to her feet. "I've never been so insulted in my life!" she said furiously. "Go away, you dreadful man!" - Andrew

"It's not funny, Alison, and it's all your fault." "My fault?" "Yes, coming to stay in this outlandish place, and dragging poor little Pamela and me into your disgraceful goings-on, and throwing us—yes, Alison, literally throwing us at those dreadful Tosh men in order to get us off your hands and out of your way. Now what have you to say?" "Nothing," replied Alison feebly. "You seem to have said everything." 

Susan Scarlett Book Collection! ❤️

Happy Sunday Shelfie! 😍📚✨

Helllooo friends! I don't usually share Sunday Shelfies on my blog, but I am today! Yay! 🥳🎉

This photo only a shows a small portion of my bookshelves, but still…you can count that...right?

You might be able to catch a small glimpse of books by some of my favorite authors such as Rosamunde Pilcher, Ruby Ferguson, Margery Sharp, Louise Platt Hauck, and Maysie Greig on these shelves. (Also, a few by authors I'm excited about like Margaret Pedler and Anya Seton.)

I'm sure you already know that I'm a huge fan of Noel Streatfeild (check out my Noel Streatfeild Book Collection!), but I also ADORE her YA books written under the name Susan Scarlett 🥰 

I wanted to share my current book collection because I just added some gorgeous new vintage editions! Woo-hoo! (So much thanks and love to my parents, my sister Kim, and my in-laws for the birthday money! And, tons of love to Caro (@carosbookcase) for buying me Poppies in England and Ten Way Street! She is always incredibly generous and thoughtful! 🥰💕📚🎁)

 

[See my Susan Scarlett Instagram Post for better photos!]

 

Why Do I Love Susan Scarlett Books?

 

💖 Lively and fun to read

💖 Addictive 'gotta-get-to-the-end' stories

💖 Easy and enjoyable writing style

💖 At least one male and female character (not necessarily the main characters) to love

💖 Cozy details (especially about food and clothing)

💖 Light romances that don't leave you feeling over-emotional or sickly sweet

 

What I Find Frustrating about Susan Scarlett Books:

 

❊ Horribly annoying female characters who are lazy, self-centered and absolutely unlikable

❊ I find myself sometimes sighing (possibly loudly and deeply) when there is lack of communication between characters or if the ending feels like it was rushed and I have to go back and see if I'd missed something.

❊ Sometimes the characters' names get confusing because they're similar in some way and I have trouble keeping track of who's who. (Does this happen to you, too?) 

BOOK RATINGS:

The Man in the Dark 5🌟
Under the Rainbow 5🌟
Murder While You Work 4.75🌟
Sally-Ann 4.5🌟
Babbacombe’s 4.5🌟
Peter and Paul 4.5🌟
Summer Pudding 4.25🌟
Pirouette 4🌟
Clothes-Pegs 4🌟 

TBR:

Poppies Over England
Ten Way Street
Love in a Mist 

 

I adore my new vintage book collection but I love the covers on my Dean Street Press Furrowed Middlebrow editions more! 😜 (FUN FACT: I just counted and I only have 36 more DSP FM books to read! I've read 67/103 so far!) 

Do you love vintage editions OR modern reprints? (Or both?) 

Which cover do you like best? Let me know in the comments! 🤔

Happy Sunday, Beautiful Friends! ☀️💛🤗💛☀️ 

 

All I Desire by Dorothy Lambert 😍❤️💙

Happy Furrowed Middlebrow Friday! 🤩✨📚 

After reading and loving Much Dithering in April, I knew I had to read ALL 4 of the upcoming Dorothy Lambert novels by Dean Street Press (being republished in July 2026!) Here are my thoughts on the first one!

RATING: 4.75🌟 Highly entertaining, gossipy and oh-so-fun! 

All I Desire takes place in a small English village and centers on Holm Street. When Mrs. Hermia Carlisle (whom her daughter calls "Tabitha") moves into an empty manor house (aka The Manor) with her incorrigible daughter, Jeremy, it creates quite a stir in the neighborhood. The Holm Street "cats" now have something interesting to chat about—especially at the local grocery with horrible Mrs. Hogbin and at the post office with curious Mrs. Maycock.

Between the single girls vying for solitary and distinguished Major Southcote's attention, disdaining (but also yearning for) the young and attractive Ian Fenwick, or the mystery surrounding Mrs. Carlisle (and her disgraceful "past"), there is never a lack of drama, underhanded activity and downright jealousy infusing every day of the week. 

I don't usually love books with so many unlikable characters, but Dorothy Lambert does an amazing job of creating characters that you love to hate. Specifically:

CHARACTERS YOU LOVE TO HATE:

❊ Snobby, hateful and controlling Mrs. Fenwick
❊ Common, weak and close-minded Mrs. Marsh
❊ Frivolous, beautiful and selfish Chrissie Marsh (aka Marsh Mallow)
❊ Grumpy, plain and very difficult Alberta Marsh
❊ Trouble-making, stingy and nasty Mrs. Hogbin

CHARACTERS BALANCED OUT BY:

💖 Sparkling, impulsive, daring, bold, and free-spirited Jeremy (named after her cricket-playing father)
💖 Lovely, vague and frustrating author Hermia Carlisle
💖 Good-looking, gentlemanly and hardworking Ian (who is tied to his mother and sister Daphne)
💖 Solemn, responsible and independent Piers Southcote 
💖 Well-meaning Mrs. Mannering and her kind, but ineffectual husband Vicar Mannering
💖 Eccentric, miserly, unwashed and humorous Miss Gosby (who I kept getting confused with Mrs. Hogbin for some reason!) 

But, overall, my favorite character of all was Jeremy! Her energy just kept the story going and I adored every single conversation she had with her mother (or anyone, really.) 

The descriptions of The Manor, the confusions caused by the proposed Shakespeare play, and the village "cats" searching for any reason at all to find fault with any action taken by Hermia or Jeremy make for a non-stop, delightful escapade! 

❤️ MY FAVORITE PASSAGES:

He followed her across the dim hall into a room full of the evening sunshine, a pleasant room with cream walls and paint, gay curtains and bowls of flowers. Mrs. Carlisle was sitting in a low chair by the west window, doing embroidery. Her fingers were never idle. They had to keep pace with her busy brain. As she sewed, she worked out her stories. Sewing of any kind soothed her and allowed her fancy to roam into realms of romance.

She ran on like a tap that had lost its washer and couldn't be turned off, and Piers wondered how long he would be able to maintain his self-control and abstain from murder.

"No, thank you, darling, no 'purry' for me. I feel like a banana and a boiled egg; then a long, hot bath and I'd liked to sleep for a week." They had supper under the mulberry tree as usual. - Jeremy

"Possibly, we live too persistently on spaghetti to sparkle pictorially—too filling, dearest; bad for the lines of your figure and positively deathly to the expression, you know." - Jeremy

"When you are older, Jeremy, you will learn that the only way to be happy is to float on the surface. Never dive too deep or try to swim against the current; just float along gently, take life easily, never ask too much—" - Hermia

I'm so super grateful to Victoria at Dean Street Press for sending along this book (and three other new Dorothy Lambert books) for me to read and review! I'm never disappointed when I read a DSP Furrowed Middlebrow book—they're so perfect for picking up the spirits, getting in touch with tender moments and/or following along with the more mundane (but incredibly meaningful) details of everyday life...especially if they take place in a small village in England or Scotland!

I'm currently reading another Dorothy Lambert title and I can't wait to share my thoughts on three more novels! 🥳🎉

Let me know in the comments below which Dorothy Lambert book you're hoping to read next...or, if you've read them, which is your favorite!

Happy June and so many hugs, friends!! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕